Midland High School Physics


Introduction Physics in Action
.2 Physics Online Physics Resources
.3 Physics Physics Syllabus
.4 Physics Physics Java Applet Labs
Physics Survey Physics Online Grades




Introduction

Through the voyage our eyes open to the world!

Homer Hickam, retired NASA engineer and author of the memoir, October Sky attributes much of his success in life to three essential qualities,

To connect with a subject in some personal meaningful way will often guide us in our pursuit of knowledge and a suitable career path. Without the self-discipline to manage our time effectively as we start on this journey of discovery our efforts will be random and wanting. Great journeys' of the intellect test our mental limits; they force us into a state of metacognition. We feel some discomfort as our base knowledge is tested. Without a strong habit of mind to ride the lows as well as the highs, the journey will unfortunately end prematurely. If you apply the three p's to the way you live your life, you will not be disappointed.

Check out Homer's site at: homerhickam.com

Physics in Action

I tackled the problem of the tour as if I were in math class, science class, chemistry class, and nutrition class, all rolled into one. I did computer calculations that balanced body weight with the potential velocity of the bike in various stages, trying to find the equation that would get me to the finish line faster than anybody else. I kept careful computer graphs of my training rides, calibrating the distances, wattages and thresholds.
Lance Armstrong
It's Not About the Bike (p219)

Why I Chose This Example

Physics as a scientific discipline is fundamentally concerned with the physical relationships that exist between matter, motion and energy. The bicycle is the most efficient mode of transport devised by humans up to this point in time and is packed with physics concepts. It takes an understanding of these relationships to truly understand how Lance Armstrong can come back from cancer and win the (arguably) hardest endurance test on earth, three consecutive times. Just ask Chris Carmichael, Lance's trainer, who monitors wattage from the bike. From the physics viewpoint, a high power (wattage) to weight ratio of the rider and bike coupled with an efficient gearing mechanism, increase the efficiency of energy conversion from the rider (stored chemical potential) to kinetic (moving) energy of the bike. After cancer, Lance came back leaner (15 pounds less weight) but retained the same huge capacity to intake oxygen as before. With a heart that is a third bigger than average, Lance can crank a high cadence, which means that he can get around France the fastest!

Physics Resources on the Web

The Physics Classroom
Fizziks Fizzle (Interactive Guide to Physics - 3 Different Levels plus Games)
HyperPhysics (Georgia State University)
Bad Physics
Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics
Honda's Cog Comercial
Physics Web
Physics Life (Physics.org)
The Science Spot: Kid Zone
HowStuffWorks (Search Engine)
About: Physics-Humor and Jokes
High School Hub
Big Chalk - Education Network
The Why Files in Education
How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life
Physics On-line Links (trebuchet)
Science History Timeline
Science Daily - Latest Research News
New Scientist Magazine

Physics Syllabus

First Semester

  1. About Science - The Scientific Method
  2. Linear Kinematics
    Understanding Graphical Relationships
    Problem Solving Strategy
  3. 2-D Kinematics
  4. Dynamics - Newton's Law's of Motion and Gravity
  5. Momentum
  6. Energy
  7. Circular Mechanics - Rotational Kinematics and Dynamics

Second Semester

  1. Mechanical Oscillations (SHM)
  2. Waves
  3. Sound
  4. Wave Properties - Reflection, Refraction and Diffraction
  5. Electromagnetic Waves - Light
  6. Optics - Lenses
  7. Optics - Gratings
  8. Electrostatics
  9. Electric Field, Potential and Current
  10. Electric Circuits
  11. Magnetism
  12. Electromagnetic Induction

Physics Java Applet Labs

Math

1D-Kinematics

  1. Relative Motion (Boat Moving down River)
  2. Motion with Constant Acceleration-Car
  3. Displacement & Velocity Graphs
  4. Reaction Time with Braking
  5. Reaction Time for cars traveling at same speed

Vectors and 2D-Kinematics

  1. Add 2-5 vectors (Shows parallelogram rule)
  2. Vector Addition
  3. Adding Two Vectors (Uses Components and Shows Parallelogram Rule)
  4. Adding Vectors in Three Dims
  5. Cannon Fired
  6. Projectile Motion (can see end v & total time in air. Can also change m)

Dynamics

  1. Buoyancy (Shows Net Force)
  2. Statics (Equilibrium of Three Forces)
  3. Inclined Plane with Block
  4. Cart With Hanging Weight

Circular Mechnaics

  1. Orbiting The Earth
  2. Carousel

Work and Energy

  1. Pulley System
  2. Lever Arm
  3. Incline Plane Ball Roll
  4. Ball Drop
  5. Fastest Path
  6. Projectile Motion (Can change initial height-looks at v,a,F and E)

Impulse and Momentum

  1. Rocket with Engine
  2. Newton's Cradle
  3. 1D Cart Collision (Can look at v,p or energy)
  4. Air-Track 1D Collision (can change the elasticity)
  5. Pool Table 2D Collision

Vibrations

  1. Mass on a Spring
  2. Pendulum
  3. Forced Vobration of a Spring (Amp vs. ang f)

Waves

  1. Standing Wave on a Rope (Fixed Boundary)
  2. Standing Wave (goes with above sim)
  3. Superposition of two waves-beats (change frequency of each)
  4. Adding Harmonics (Can play the note)

Sound

  1. Doppler (Shows moving source and stationary observer)
  2. Doppler/Shock Wave-adjust speed of source and wave. Also wavelength. Can measure wavelength
  3. Doppler/Shock(Go to Sound-Waves-Sonic Doppler Effect-Same as above but more user friendly)
  4. Plane to Observer(Go to Waves-Sound-Location of Supersonic Airplane-Shows sound from plane to observer)
  5. Decibel-Reference level compared with -3,-6,-10,-20dB difference)

Light

  1. Photoelectric Effect
  2. Reflection and Refraction (Huygen's Principle)
  3. Optics-Geometrical-The Transmissions of a Wave Through Dense Media-Reflection and Refraction
  4. Reflection and Refraction-(Multiple Wavefronts)
  5. Fish view of the world
  6. Rainbow (Change angle of Incidence)
  7. Rainbow (Simpler)
  8. Good Rainbow, Simple Color Addition and Subtraction
  9. Color (Adjust color mask over mouses face)

  10. Plane Mirror Image-Ray Tracing
  11. Lens and Mirrors (Eye Accomodation, Lenses(Plano), Mirrors(3D))
  12. Lens and Mirrors (Shows three useful rays)
  13. Converging Lens (Shows more than three principle rays)
  14. Diverging Lens
  15. Diverging Mirror

  16. Slit Diffraction Tutorial (Waves and Electrons)
  17. Wave Interference-2 slit (look at path difference)
  18. 2 Slit Interference-Colors

Electricity and Magnetism

  1. Field Lines between two charged particles
  2. Ohm's Law
  3. Simple Circuit (2 resistor)
  4. 4 Resistor Equivalent Circuit
  5. Lorentz Force on a Current Carrying Wire
  6. Direct Current Electric Motor
  7. Generator

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